Effects of Time and Method of Pig Manure Application on Growth ...

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PAT 2011;7 (1): 103 -116 ISSN: 0794-5213; Iren et al.,, <strong>Effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Time</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Method</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pig</strong> <strong>Manure</strong> <strong>Application</strong> .. 104 Generally, fertile, deep, friable, well-drained soil is one <strong>of</strong> the first essentials for a successful Amaranthus cultivation. The exact type <strong>of</strong> soil is not so important provided it is well drained, adequately supplied with organic matter, retentive <strong>of</strong> moisture <strong>and</strong> reasonably free <strong>of</strong> pests or problematic soil micro-organisms (Uzo, 1989). However, arable soils <strong>of</strong> the tropics get degraded quickly in physical, chemical <strong>and</strong> biological qualities as a result <strong>of</strong> continuous cropping. Continuous cropping with persistent use <strong>of</strong> inorganic fertilizers increased soil acidity <strong>and</strong> physical degradation while crop yield may fall. Currently, farmers <strong>and</strong> scientists are showing renewed interest in proper <strong>and</strong> effective use <strong>of</strong> organic manure as a means <strong>of</strong> wastes disposal <strong>and</strong> to maintain soil fertility. Organic manure application improves the nutrient status <strong>of</strong> soils, increases the level <strong>of</strong> organic matter in the soil <strong>and</strong> gives high residual effects on soil fertility. The role played by organic manure in soil fertility maintenance notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing, the increasing awareness by consumers in western <strong>and</strong> tropical countries on illnesses such as diabetics, hypertension, cancer <strong>and</strong> obesity associated with consumption <strong>of</strong> food produced with chemical fertilizers, has shifted their focus to safe eating habits by consuming food crops produced with organic fertilizers (Moyin-Jesu, 2007). This confirms the assertion made by Hodges (1982), that the acceptance <strong>of</strong> a crop can be influenced by the type <strong>and</strong> source <strong>of</strong> nutrients used in its production. Generally, in developed countries, a kilogram <strong>of</strong> vegetable produced using organic fertilizer attracts higher prices than the same quantity produced using inorganic fertilizers because it is believed that the former is devoid <strong>of</strong> synthetic chemicals. The nitrogen in organic matter occurs largely in the form <strong>of</strong> protein nitrogen. Hence it must be changed into the ammonium or nitrate form by the process <strong>of</strong> decomposition. Various experiments (T<strong>and</strong>on, 1991; Schippers, 2000; Odiete et al., 1999) have shown that well-decomposed (fermented) manure <strong>of</strong> whatever type is the best for Amaranth cultivation but the best time <strong>and</strong> method <strong>of</strong> its application are not known to have been reported. The current study was therefore carried out in order to examine <strong>and</strong> determine the best time <strong>and</strong> method <strong>of</strong> pig manure application for Amaranthus production. Materials <strong>and</strong> <strong>Method</strong>s Field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm <strong>of</strong> Michael Okpara University <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Umudike to examine <strong>and</strong> determine the best time <strong>and</strong> method <strong>of</strong> pig manure application for Amaranthus production for two years. Umudike is located in the humid Rainforest zone <strong>of</strong> Nigeria <strong>and</strong> lies within latitude 05 0 29’ N <strong>and</strong> longitude 07 0 33’ E, with an altitude <strong>of</strong> 122 m above sea level. Annual rainfall in Umudike ranges from 1900 mm to 2200 mm, bimodally distributed with peaks in July <strong>and</strong> September. The relative humidity, minimum <strong>and</strong> maximum temperatures ranged from 54-87 %, 19 -
PAT 2011;7 (1): 103 -116 ISSN: 0794-5213; Iren et al.,, <strong>Effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Time</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Method</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pig</strong> <strong>Manure</strong> <strong>Application</strong> .. 105 24 0 C <strong>and</strong> 28 - 34 0 C respectively. The soil is loamy s<strong>and</strong> in texture <strong>and</strong> classified as an Ultisol (USDA, 1999). <strong>Pig</strong> manure used for the study was collected from the animal farm unit <strong>of</strong> Michael Okpara University <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Umudike. This manure was sun-dried for 10 days to hinder decomposition, <strong>and</strong> then stored in bags under dry conditions as performed by Ikpe (2003). After sun-drying, the pig manure was thoroughly mixed together <strong>and</strong> the sub-sample taken to the laboratory for analysis. The sample was analyzed for total N, total P, total K, organic carbon, organic matter, C: N ratio, Ca <strong>and</strong> Mg following st<strong>and</strong>ard procedures (Juo, 1979). The results <strong>of</strong> these analyses gave 2.87 % N, 0.21 % P, 1.80 % K, 30.29 % O.C., 52.22 % O. M., 10.55 C:N ratio, 4.0 % Ca <strong>and</strong> 1.8 % Mg. <strong>Pig</strong> manure at the rate <strong>of</strong> 90 kg N/ha was used for Amaranthus production. The Amaranthus seeds used were obtained from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike. The l<strong>and</strong> was mechanically slashed, ploughed <strong>and</strong> harrowed. Flat beds (NIHORT, 1983) measuring 3 m x 1.5 m were manually made using spade. An alley <strong>of</strong> 1.2 m was left between blocks <strong>and</strong> 0.6 m between plots. The experiment design was a split-plot laid out in a r<strong>and</strong>omized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. There were 20 treatment combinations consisting <strong>of</strong> all the possible combination <strong>of</strong> 4 methods <strong>of</strong> application at 5 different times <strong>of</strong> application <strong>of</strong> the pig manure. The mainplot treatments were made up <strong>of</strong> 4 methods <strong>of</strong> fertilizer application (b<strong>and</strong>ing without incorporation, b<strong>and</strong>ing with incorporation, broadcasting without incorporation, broadcasting with incorporation), while the sub-plot treatments were made up <strong>of</strong> 5 different times <strong>of</strong> manure application (two weeks before planting (2WBP), one week before planting (1WBP), at planting (AP), one week after planting (1WAP), two weeks after planting (2WAP)). Each treatment was replicated 3 times giving a total <strong>of</strong> 60 plots. Treatments were r<strong>and</strong>omly assigned to the plots in each block using the Table for R<strong>and</strong>om Numbers (Wahua, 1999). Amaranthus seeds were mixed with dried river s<strong>and</strong> first before sowing so as to ensure that the seeds were not planted too close together to ensure proper management <strong>of</strong> the seed rate desired. The mixture was about 70 % s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> 30 % Amaranthus seeds. These were evenly distributed directly on drills at a distance <strong>of</strong> 10 cm between each row. Direct seeding <strong>of</strong> Amaranthus is not interrupted by transplanting shock which temporarily affects the physiological <strong>and</strong> biochemical processes <strong>of</strong> the plants (Messiaen, 1992).The plots were watered before planting <strong>and</strong> immediately after planting to ensure <strong>and</strong> enhance sprouting. Sprouting occurs 3-4 days after planting. The seedlings were later thinned down to one plant per st<strong>and</strong> few days after emergence at a spacing <strong>of</strong> 10 cm between plants. The optimal spacing for plants to be harvested by uprooting is 10 cm x 10 cm (Schippers, 2000; Ayuba et al., 2001).Therefore, the planting distance <strong>of</strong> 10 cm x 10 cm
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Effects of Time and Method of Pig Manure Application on Growth ...

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